Defend Charas! Reclaim Our Community Center! Demand Mayor Adams use eminent domain to return the center to the people!

For 22 years, from 1979 to 2001, 605 E. Ninth St. served as the home to the Charas/El Bohio Community & Cultural Center. Each year, thousands of people attended programs there. Charas hosted community meetings, children’s programming, art exhibits, music concerts, film screenings, plays, dance recitals, bicycle recycling, construction and youth jobs training, substance abuse treatment, and political organizing. 

In 1998, Rudy Giuliani sold Charas to a campaign contributor for a paltry 3.15 million dollars and in December of 2001, Charas was evicted from the space and the center was shuttered.

Charas sat in disrepair for more than 20 years. All along the community has fought relentlessly to have Charas returned to the people of Loisiada but to no avail. Meanwhile, the developer deliberately sabotaged the buildings' upkeep and allowed the landmarked property to fall into foreclosure. 

Only by taking matters into our own hands can we save this historic building and rebuild our community center!

This past January, NY Supreme Court Justice Melissa Crane ruled that Madison Realty Capital (520 Madison Avenue) could move forward with a foreclosure against the landlord Gregg Singer after years of delay. 

This is the moment the community must force the issue and reclaim Charas for the community. Free Charas Now!